Tag Archives: work

Following on from her “Journey of a Dress” retrospective in Los Angeles, Diane Von Furstenberg will continue celebrating four decades of her iconic wrap dress by taking over 12 windows and the main entrance at Galeries Lafayette’s Paris Flagship store from September 3 to 30. She will present a capsule collection of 12 dresses in 6 heritage prints as well as bags and a selection of small leather goods.

Diane in her office situated in the famous meat-packing district in New York.

From 25th of August, Diane will feature in an advertising campaign shot by Jean-Paul Goude. She is expected to attend an event at the store in late September to coincide with Paris Fashion Week.

Diane as she is set to appear in the campaign for Galeries Lafayette’s Autumn theme “Pop’timisme.” (photo – Jean-Paul Goude)

Diane launched her first line at 22 and the wrap dress based on a ballerina wrap at 26. She was motivated by the drive for independence and said, “I didn’t know what I wanted to do, but I always knew the women I wanted to be.”

Diane modelling the iconic wrap dress.

Her dresses have been worn by the rich and famous for their style, iconic prints and comfort and are favoured by the Duchess of Cambridge. A dress from her 1975-1976 collection has been immortalised at The Costume Institute at The Metropolitan Museum of Art.

The Duchess of Cambridge in DvF. (photo – Getty)

An early adopter of new technology, Von Furstenberg has designed a range of eyewear for Google Glass.

Diane Von Furstemberg for Google Glass.

Diane had her term as President of the Council of Fashion Designers of America extended through to 2016. CFDA CEO Steven Kolb said, “The board’s unanimous decision to ask Diane to stay on as president is testament to the great growth the CFDA has had under her leadership.”

Autumn/Winter 2014 (photo – Getty)

Autumn/Winter 2014 (photo – Getty)

Michael Hertz who previously worked with Bally, has been hired as Artistic Director to assist in promotion and design of ready-to-wear, accessories, aesthetic of stores and advertising campaigns.

“Personality and jewellery will conquer everything;” said Zandra Rhodes and now it has. Queen Elizabeth has bestowed one of her highest honours, a damehood, on the British fashion and textile designer.

Rhodes received the title, equivalent to a knighthood, as part of the annual Queen’s Birthday Honours.

Rhodes, born in Chatham Kent in 1940, is the daughter of a fashion instructor and graduated from The Royal College of Art in 1964. In 1968 whilst lecturing at art college, she opened The Fulham Road Clothes Shop in Chelsea with Sylvia Ayton. She set up on her own and designed her first collection in 1969.

Considered too outrageous by traditional British manufacturers she took her designs to New York where Diana Vreeland featured it in American Vogue.

On the cover of Suitcase magazine.

Famous for her vivid prints and colourful hair, she is considered a pillar of Sixties and Seventies British fashion. Having kept samples of all her work she founded the Textile and Fashion Museum in Bermondsey in 2003.

She has designed for the rich and famous, actors and royalty including Diana, Princess of Wales, Elizabeth Taylor, Jackie Onassis, Freddy Mercury, Kylie Minogue, Paris Hilton, Bianca Jagger and Anastasia.

Raising Cancer Awareness (photo- Jeremy Selwyn)

Known as “The Princess of Punk” Zandra has won many awards throughout her career including ” Designer of the Year” in 1972. She was made Commander of the British Empire in 1997 and holds nine Honorary Doctorates from Universities in the USA and UK.

Rhodes lost her mother to cancer and supports Mayor Boris Johnson as Breast Cancer “ambassador” to raise awareness of the devastating disease.

Masterful combining of colour and design. (photo – Advanced Style)

Honoured with her was Hilary Mantel, author of celebrated Tudor-era novels “Bring Up The Bodies” and “Wolf Hall.”

Angelina Jolie, though not a British citizen, was made an honorary dame for her work toward eradicating sexual violence worldwide.

The most prominent International Nutrition company Herbalife, is making strides against the war on obesity and unemployment with unprecedented growth seen in the UK market. Herbalife won three categories at the annual Direct Selling Association (DSA) Awards. Daniel Spiller, a former pro-footballer, won the UK Top Direct Seller of the Year Award. He joined Herbalife in 2012 after friends recommended he try the products. Spiller says; “Once I found out some of the top athletes were using the products, I decided I would try them out.”

Daniel Spiller, winner of the UK DSA Direct Marketer of the Year Award. (photo – worklondonstyle)

Herbalife has sponsored some of the top footballers in the world including LA Galaxy and David Beckham, Lionel Messi and currently, Christiano Ronaldo, 2x winner of the FIFA Ballon D’or.

Victoria Evans won Young Entrepreneur of the Year. Linda Mills, Director of the Direct Selling Association says; “Victoria has built a very successful direct selling business at the age of just 25. What’s even more impressive is that she’s done this while studying for a degree, supplementing the cost of her course with direct selling’.

Victoria Evans (photo- Herbalife)

Gavin Aley, Senior Director UK, Ireland and Iceland won the Direct Selling Leadership Award. Linda Mills said, “Gavin has lead Herbalife through an unprecedented period of growth over the past three years”.

Ronaldo using Herbalife nutrition. (photo-Herbalife)

Founded by Mark Hughes in California in 1980, Herbalife, listed on the New York Stock Exchange, is one of the largest direct selling companies in the world. More than 3 million independent Herbalife partners generated sales in excess of $7 billion in 2013. Herbalife offers a range of science based weight management products, nutritional supplements and personal care products intended to support a healthy, active lifestyle.

The launch of .london on April 29 confirms the growing power of London as a global city “brand”. Following in the footsteps of Berlin and Vienna, this will make London the third city ahead of New York and Paris, to launch its own web domains.

London’s Financial district. (photo – worklondonstyle)

The mayor of London, Boris Johnson said,”It is hard to imagine that 25 years ago few of us had heard of the internet. Now we take it for granted: watching films on demand and buying weekly groceries.”

Boris Johnson – The Mayor of London

Johnson’s open letter in the Evening Standard newspaper, who made history by becoming the first business to adopt the new “Dot London” website name, was signed by 40 prominent figures from culture, business and charity. Johnson said, “Twenty five years ago it was about connecting computer networks. Today it is about connecting with people, communities and customers – and being relevant to them.”

From 29 April London businesses that until now defined their online presence with internet domains ending in .co.uk and .com, will have the opportunity to choose the .london domain. Web addresses are expected to go live by late August or the beginning of September and will cost from £40 per year.

An initial three month “grace period” will prioritise London-based applicants over those from outside the capital, when applying for the same name.

Marks and Spencer Chief Executive Marc Bolland’s announcement that the retailer is planning to expand its French footprint with 20 stand-alone Food stores, saw shares rise 2.2% to 469.90p at the close yesterday. At an Investor Seminar in Paris, he announced an ambitious plan to drive international growth by opening 250 new stores in Western Europe, India, China, Russia and the Middle East.

Marks and Spencer’s Chief Executive Marc Bolland with two models at the opening of the Champs Élysées store in 2011. (photo – M&S)

Bolland said: “We are focusing on Flagship stores to deliver brand presence and stand-out. We also see great opportunities in fresh Food and Lingerie and Beauty concepts.”

The Champs Élysées Flagship store by night. (photo – M&S)

The plans for Paris would make France it’s largest food market outside the UK. M&S hopes that the expansion will bring relief from the pain it has suffered in the over saturated UK market.

Whiskey and baked goods are favourites with French shoppers. (photo – M&S)

A new franchise partnership with SFH Invest will see three new on-street stores, trading from c.300 square metres, open this summer.

Model Rosie Huntington-Whiteley declaring the store open for business three years ago. (photo – M&S)

Workers and customers were outraged when M&S shut its stores in France in 2001.

Renowned for quality, affordable lingerie and beauty, it has also lined up 20 sites for expansion in emerging markets.

Noemie Lenoir, a former M&S lingerie model. (photo – M&S)

The company will also expand internationally with a ‘bricks and clicks’ approach by establishing flagship stores in key cities, supported M&S Food stores and a full online offer. It has recently revamped its website.

M&S’s International arm made profits of £120 million on sales of £1.1 billion last year. The new French Food stores will offer customers convenient access to a range of up to 2500 exceptional quality, fresh M&S products.

Phoebe Philo and her team opened the doors to their elegantly designed new flagship store on Mount Street today. Clear grey marmorino plastered walls and marbled floors inlaid with semi-precious stones, greeted eager customers. Danish artist FOS created specially commissioned artistic details including door handles, floor lamps and a chandelier.

Born in Paris and educated at Central Saint Martins in London, Philo won the ‘British Designer of the Year’ award in 2010 and the ‘International Designer of the Year’ award in 2011.

Geometric shapes were integral to her accessories for the season. Bags featured square handles coupled with cubic bangles and chunky, rectangular platform shoes.

The Summer 2014 Campaign (photo – Celine)

In a move away from her usual minimalism and understated elegance, Philo introduced bright colours and bold graphic prints for Spring /Summer 2014. The layered look and asymmetrical pleated skirts were teamed with coats and blazers.

Spring/Summer 2014 (photo – Showbit)

Travel informed the Spring/Summer collections of many designers at Paris Fashion Week. It is represented by colourful tribal prints in the collection at Celine.